You’re an IT professional. You can install, build, configure, and implement to your heart’s content. Do you make it a point to know everything that is going on when you run a program or install an application? If something goes wrong, do you know have an idea of what’s going on? Since most programs nowadays have some type of database backend, do you take time to ensure you have a solid database install? Well, my friends, you should!
Why is it so important to know what’s going on behind the database scene? The answer lies in the details:
- Makes you a more informed technologist. Becoming aware and gaining insight into the inner workings of your database infrastructure makes you a more informed resource and that “go-to” person everyone craves to emulate.
- Builds value, reputation, and skill. Although knowing how a database works is good, having the opportunity to learn more is better. This is not only true for the here-and-now, but also for a potential career shift into database administration.
- Increases your ability to communicate with other techs (especially the DBA). My personal favorite. Communication between techs can break-down if we’re all not speaking the same language. Knowing object names, models, and resources used in the database can make important talks with the DBA more casual.
- You become a better person. Knowledge is NOT power – Knowledge EMPOWERS! You never know when such knowledge will propel you forward.
It’s no big secret that the database world, SQL Server in particular, is full of openness and support (PASS, #SQLFamily, dba.stackexchange.com, . . .), so there should be nothing holding you back from gaining full exposure to how a database works. I challenge you to learn something new about how the database works and explore what this “data buzz” is all about. Share your musings below! Otherwise, you may end up like little Bobby Tables.